Question

select all that apply
which events changed the balance of power between the executive and the legislative branches?
the revolutionary war
the constitutional convention
watergate
the civil war
reconstruction

Explanation:

• The Constitutional Convention: Established the framework of separation of powers and defined the roles of executive (e.g., President) and legislative (Congress) branches, altering their power balance.
• Watergate: Led to increased legislative oversight (e.g., new laws on executive accountability) and restrictions on executive power, shifting the balance.
• The Civil War: Post - war, the executive (Lincoln and successors) had to enforce Reconstruction, but Congress also played a major role, and the war itself expanded executive wartime powers, which later influenced the balance.
• Reconstruction: Congress (especially Radical Republicans) and the executive (Presidents like Johnson) clashed over Reconstruction policies, leading to changes in their power dynamics (e.g., impeachment of Johnson, congressional control over Reconstruction).
• The Revolutionary War: While it led to the creation of a new nation, the immediate power balance between executive - like and legislative - like bodies was more about forming the new government, but it set the stage. However, the main events that directly changed the balance are the Constitutional Convention, Watergate, Civil War, and Reconstruction. Wait, actually, the Revolutionary War was about gaining independence, not directly changing the balance between executive and legislative as we know them (since the new government structure was being formed). So the correct ones are: The Constitutional Convention (defined the branches' powers), Watergate (increased legislative oversight), The Civil War (expanded executive wartime powers and post - war power struggles), Reconstruction (congress - executive clashes). The Revolutionary War was more about independence from Britain, not the internal balance between executive and legislative.

Answer:

B. The Constitutional Convention, C. Watergate, D. The Civil War, E. Reconstruction